[WiLT] Charity staff 'prevented from standing for election'

[WiL Admin]

Charity staff 'prevented from standing for election'

Some charities are preventing their staff from standing for election because
they fear it could lead to allegations of political bias, according to the
founder of a specialist recruitment consultancy for campaigners.

Jonathan Dearth of The Right Ethos said campaigners had told him their employers
were unhappy about them seeking office. One woman, he said, had even been told
she could not stand for her local council.

"It's an increasing problem because the campaigning sector has ballooned in the
past decade and looks set to get larger," said Dearth. "This could limit the
sort or number of people in campaigning - particularly at the top end."

Several campaigners are hoping to be elected to Parliament this year. Stella
Creasy, head of public affairs and campaigns at the Scout Association and
Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow, said the charity
was aware she would be standing for election when she joined in 2008 and it had
not caused any problems.

Joe Hall was advocacy and communications manager at Save the Children until
September, when he left to campaign as an independent candidate for Luton South.
His opponents will include ChildLine founder Esther Rantzen. Hall said the
charity was unconcerned about his political ambitions and even offered him the
chance to stay on part-time.

Charity Commission guidance on charities and elections, which was updated in
January, says employees should declare when they are standing for election.

"The trustees should then consider this potential conflict of interest and
assess the risk to the charity in terms of both reputation and legal liability
of the person taking on both roles simultaneously," the guidance says.

>From third Sector Online http://ecm.hbpl.co.uk/re?l=ew43wrI450l1k5I1k